The Dover Target store remains closed after a fire was set inside the store.
The Dover Fire Department responded to a call from the store at 9:08 p.m. Sunday.
Multiple fire companies responded to assist in suppressing the fire and ventilating the building, including Dover, Little Creek, Leipsic, Camden-Wyoming, Dover Air Force Base, Hartly, Cheswold, South Bowers Beach, St. Francis EMS, and Kent County Paramedics.
The fire was under control, and crews were able to leave the store by 12:30 a.m Monday. Citizen’s Hose Company ofSmyrna covered the City of Dover during the blaze.
Evidence obtained at this point in the investigation has shown the fire was intentionally set in the linen section, near the center of the store. The store was quickly evacuated of customers and employees with no injuries reported. Preliminary damage estimates range between $3 – $4 million dollars in merchandise damage from the fire. There was no immediate word on structural damage.
Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at (302) 736-7130. Callers may remain anonymous. Tips may also be submitted to law enforcement through Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-TIP-3333 or online at delaware.crimestoppersweb.com; a cash reward is possible for information leading to an arrest.
The Target fire comes after a Walmart store to the north was closed for a couple of days after a fire inside the store in the New Castle area.
The State Fire Marshal’s office was investigating whether the fire was intentionally set in one of the departments in the store.
